Agenda item

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory on an application for the grant of a premises licence, made by DMC Brewery Ltd, for 78-79 Railway Street Arches 78 And 79, Railway Street, Richmond Hill, Leeds, LS9 8HB. The application is for a double railway arch to be used as a microbrewery with a taproom offering on and off sales of alcohol, provision of films, performance of live and recorded music and provision of late night refreshment.

The Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory submitted an application for the grant of a premises licence, made by DMC Brewery Ltd, for 78-79 Railway Street Arches 78 And 79, Railway Street, Richmond Hill, Leeds, LS9 8HB.

Prior to the meeting, supplementary information was published online and circulated to Sub-Committee Members. The document contained further correspondence from the applicant with Entertainment Licensing. 

The following were in attendance for this item;

• Giuseppe Romano (Applicant)

• John Davidson (Supporter to the application)

• Councillor L Farley, (Objector to the application)

The Legal Officer outlined the procedure for the hearing and the Licensing Officer presented the application. Several objections had been made (Appendix F) and were considered as a part of the application.

The following information was highlighted;

Mr Romano informed the Committee that the premises is intended as a brewery and taproom specialising in alcoholic ginger beer, which will be a first for Leeds. Whilst the application is for a 3am closure, the space is not intended as a nightclub. The premises’ use of Temporary Event Notices (TENs) had not attracted any noise complaints from residents, and Mr Romano felt that the trains running until 3am were likely to cause a bigger disruption. Mr Romano had checked the noise levels on the nights that had used TENs to ensure that the noise from inside was contained.

Mr Davidson, a long term local resident, spoke in favour of the application, as the area has had little community meeting space and amenities since the closure of the Yorkshire Rider Club. Whilst the premises is not intended to have a community centre role, he felt that the opening was promising for the area’s development.

Councillor Farley spoke against the application on the grounds of public nuisance, due to the proximity of new build housing including social housing for young families. The possibility of noise pollution for the residents was noted. The premises’ social media was highlighted as advertising a TENs as a “late licence”. The possibility of adding drunk people to an area prone to crime was considered too. The Councillor however noted that a small business opening was positive for the area, and that the business should still open, but with an earlier closing time of 11pm whilst the business develops.

A recent daytime attack on the street was determined to have no relevance to the application.

The Committee during discussion with the attendees ascertained the following;

·  The premises had been open for four days, and Councillor Farley and the other ward members for Burmantofts and Richmond Hill had not been to visit the premises.

·  On the Saturday 21^st October, the first normal day of business, the space had around 10-15 customers in the later part of the evening

·  Mr Davidson confirmed details of the new housing in the area, including that the majority were for one bedroom flats, unlikely to house families

·  Mr Romano had agreed five conditions with Environmental Protection Team prior to the meeting. West Yorkshire Police made no representation.

RESOLVED – That the application be granted as applied for.